Fuyuki Church
"Ugh, just the place reeks." Bazette's servant made a face of disgust, face scrunching at the foul smell. She agrees with her, the entire place truly smells foul.
It's not a physical sense of smell of foulness akin to a horrid smell of something unpleasant but the metaphorical smell of something foul and dark. It was as if the holy grounds of the church itself had been spoiled by something rotten. Yet at the same time, she can still feel that the church is still consecrated. Despite that, she can still feel it.
Something is not right.
"Any idea, Lancer." Bazette asks.
"None come to mind. I don't know about you but the entire place and its vibes are definitely fishy. Something's not right in this place." The Lancer servant replied, frowning as she stared at the looming church. Adjusting her hat, she subtly began to go through all the weapons she had hidden under her coat. Something Bazette definitely noticed between their bond.
"We're not here to fight, Lancer." The Irish woman hissed at the servant yet there's no reaction.
"Keep your guard up. All my senses are screaming at me right now. Don't be fooled with whatever is inside." Van Helsing said, her tone losing all hint of playfulness that Bazette has been accustomed too.
"What should I expect?" Bazette asks, now taking it seriously. Better listen to the monster hunter's instincts than not. She trusts the Lancer servant and it's the very first time she saw the older woman seriously.
Together, they both enter the church. The doors loudly creaked, a testament to its age and neglected maintenance. Rows upon rows of pews greet them as they walk towards the altar where a man is praying beneath. As they drew near, their footsteps alerted the man, disturbing his prayers as he turned his head towards the duo.
"Ah, Bazette." He said, pulling himself up to stand in front of them. "A pleasure to see you again after so long." He greets before his eyes linger towards Lancer.
Master, no matter what you do, do not trust him!
Lancer stoically stared back at the man's disturbing gaze. She can already tell that he's plotting in regards to her. It's the same eyes she was used to against identifying vampires and their agenda. Too bad this man is so blatant about it.
Not to mention, the foul rotting smell is currently originating from him. There's no need to alert Bazette anymore. The evidence is right in front of them.
This is NOT the Kotomine she knew all those years.
"Kotomine. I'm here to officially join the 5th Holy Grail War." Bazette said, getting to the point immediately.
She wants to leave so bad right now. She should have listened to Lancer instead of being stubborn. How could she be so wrong and stupid not to listen? What the hell happened to this man?! The foul rot is clinging to the priest, the smell so overwhelming at close, she felt like puking. It's not like the Dead Apostle hunts or rogue magi. No, whatever this is, it's far more malignant.
It's...Evil.
Kotomine chuckles at her blunt words. "Straightforward as always. It's why I like you Mage enforcers more than the regular Magi. You're a breath of fresh air compared to those aristocrats." He said, trying to have small talk.
"But I think you're not here for pleasantries and in quite a hurry." He added as his gaze lands on Lancer's incessant foot tapping.
"As much as I like to talk about the old days, we're currently in the middle of a war. Time is a weapon I cannot waste." Bazette reasons, mentally thanking Lancer for the assist.
"You're right. Apologies, it's not everyday I get to meet an old friend since I have taken my father's place." He replies with an apologetic smile that doesn't feel right.
"My condolences."
"Servant class?" He asks.
"Assasin."
"Then I officially welcome you to the war, may the Lord be with you in your endeavors." He said with a flare of his arms. "If you ever lose your servant in the war, you're free to take refuge in the Church, my old friend."
"I thank you for your patronage." No thanks.
She will never be able to stand the foulness of his being.
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"Hahahaha, it looks like the pawn has deduced your intention, Kirei." A rambunctious laugh echoed in the empty church after the duo left a few minutes ago.
"My king, forgive this servant's incompetence." Kotomine bowed his head with a pleasant smile despite his words, something that the other occupant of the Church mirrors.
In a flash of golden light, a blonde man appears sitting on one of the pews, draping his arms on the backrest as he gives the priest an arrogant smirk.
This is Gilgamesh, the oldest recorded Hero of human history, the King of Heroes and the Archer servant of the 4th Holy Grail War.
"Your incompetence is noted, Kirei. You failed to procure our tool in this war. Such insolence." Despite the harsh words, his smile never fell from his lips.
"Yet in failure, it looks like entertainment will not be so bland afterall. Here I was expecting this war would be nothing but fought by children and mediocre mongrels who crawled their way to the throne. How wrong I was." Gilgamesh laughs to himself.
"Oh, have you discovered something, my king?" Kotomine asks, mirroring the King's mirth.
"I have already seen the actors in our play. I must say it's quite the cast. They are... interesting." He said with a tone of mystery.
"Then should I bring out our finest in our play, my King."
"Yes, bring out everything, Kotomine! For this war will be most entertaining and a king must have the best alongside it." Gilgamesh nods to the priest.
Now, all he has to do is wait and watch.
Entertain me, Foreigners.
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"Blurgh!!!"
Van Helsing winced as Bazette practically threw her head in the trash bin, the first one they stumbled too far away from the church, puking out her breakfast and more. Just the sound alone can make a man wince and turn away with how bad it was.
"Uuuh...that was the worst reaction I ever had. I blame you for teaching me this." The woman glared at the servant before bile once again found its way in her throat, forcing herself to puke again.
Lancer shrugs, "Okay, my fault but you should be able to tune out such things by now." She points out as deflection.
Bazette pulled her head out of the trash bin and gave the older woman a dirty look.
"But not this one. What the hell was that?!" Bazette asks, gesturing at the Church miles away.
"That was nothing compared to the shit we did these past month. We fought Dead Apostles, Sealing Designates and faced off curses yet none of them made me feel so foul and wretched! Whatever Kotomine is up to or what the hell is happening to the church, it's something very inhuman. Is it?" She hisses.
Van Helsing nodded in response. For the last month in her early summons, Her and Bazette had gone through various jobs and encountered different types of monsters. This time though, it looks like they bit off more than they can chew.
"You're right and it's getting worse." Lancer winces, not liking what she is about to tell Bazette.
"I don't like that tone but dammit, I'll bite. How bad is it?" She asks tentatively.
"That thing you just sensed? That was Pure Evil, not human nor an entity. Just pure conceptual evil of mankind. We're up against a Divine level threat."
"Fuck." Bazette whispered in shock and fear.
She's not equipped to deal with that! Yes, Van Helsing has been teaching her how to hunt monsters, rogue magi, and Dead Apostles far more effectively compared to her early career as an Enforcer. She had learned various techniques and practical applications of tools, both magecraft and mundane. Yet the thought of fighting whatever got a hold of that Priest, her stomach cannot hold the bile due to how disgusting and oppressive he was by his presence alone. The malice and rot I clinging to him like a blanket, it was wrong.
Is this what God's feel like at the Age of Gods?
"That's a problem because we are clearly tasked with killing the bastard and solving whatever is going on with the church. Can't have an unknown Evil God watch over us while we kill each other. Not to mention, the grail." Lancer points out making Bazette wince with those facts.
"And the dirty job falls on us, again." Bazette grumbles.
"Hey, cheer up. At least we can make an alliance with another master or servant to take on the church." Lancer smiles cheerfully, excited at the prospect of meeting the other Masters and servants.
Bazette didn't share her enthusiasm.
"They would most likely kill us than cooperate, Lancer." She said as she stood straight, fixing herself.
"Definitely would unless we have physical evidence of the Church's not so human nature." The woman offers a suggestion.
"Easier said than done." Bazette replies, resuming their journey away from the accursed church.
"What about reporting this to the main branch of the Church?" Lancer asks.
"Might work but I doubt we can send word out with that monster monitoring the city." Bazette said. As proctor of the war, Kirei must have something to monitor the city and relay information in and out of the city faster than them. Not to mention, the priest has more contacts in the city while they have zero roots.
"Fuck, we are in his spiderweb." Bazette curses as she realizes the problem.
Without any roots to the city, they're basically sitting ducks. The only thing good about it is that the other magi are also in the same problem except for some masters.
The three Mage families who founded the goddamn ritual in the first place.
"Oh I see what you're going for, gonna tattle on the main families?" Van Helsing smirks at the train of thoughts flipping through her master's mind.
"We have no choice. We're isolated down here and as enforcers, we have to report this to the highest power in the city." Bazette grumbles.
Time to see the Tohsaka Family.
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"What a great turn of events."
Kirei smirks as he drank wine down the cellar of the Church where he hides the most expensive and precious cache of wine his king loves so much.
The king himself left a few hours ago to see the upcoming play. He was downright eager to see the war unfold and see what these servants bring as entertainment. As they should, for the king is now bored of humanity and failing to do so will lead to a very catastrophic event that he and his king have been orchestrating in the background.
Unfortunately, a piece of said plan has escaped between his fingers.
Bazette Fraga
An old face, an acquaintance in passing yet a friend in respect to their respective professions. He was an executor of the Church back then and her as an Enforcer of the Mage Association. Their relationship is nothing but out of respect and reputation.
She would make a useful tool, delivering her servant to him as his new tool while she dies in the dark corner of this war.
Well that was the plan.
Kirei had underestimated the servant. The woman, Lancer, is too cautious and stubborn for entering the church, the neutral ground and sanctuary for other Masters. The only reason why he didn't call them out for such disregard of the rules is the way they look at him.
They suspect something.
They know something.
A chuckle escaped the priest's lips, a cruel glint appearing behind his eyes with a hint of amusement. He's excited and eager, just like his king. Truly this war will be far different from the previous one.
Already, a servant had turned the Matou household into a fortress. Her dual nature as a servant is perplexing him. A combination of Rider and Caster skills.
The foreign magus, Edelfelt, is already scouting the city with Assassin.
Meanwhile, the Einzbern's have reclaimed their castle and have been lying in wait for a victim. That Berserker has been lusting for blood ever since.
The only ones unaccountable are Saber and Caster. The former hasn't been summoned yet and the latter has gone missing since her summoning. A mystery and unknown variables to the machinations he and his king have set but nothing they cannot handle.
For now, it's time for him to wait and prey on whoever falls first.
Now if only Rin would take care of herself.
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Fuyuki Highrise
EMIYA frowned at the familiar scenery below him. It's the same scenery he is accustomed to time and time again whenever he is summoned to the same damned war over and over again.
It was a reminder and torture to his soul.
Yet it's another chance again to do something, no matter how insignificant or small it is to change his fate.
But his summoning on this particular timeline is very wrong.
For he wasn't summoned as Archer EMIYA, nor Caster or Saber, no! He was summoned as Counter Guardian EMIYA disguised as Archer servant of this war.
Something has happened and that something was enough for Alaya to be alarmed and deploy him, his true self.
His eyes followed a certain couple walking down the road towards Homurahara Highschool, Archer wonders;
What is he about to face for a Counter Guardian to be deployed?
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Author's notes
Don't know if Rin's lucky for summoning a full power Counter Guardian Archer EMIYA or not.
This version of Archer EMIYA won't be the weaker variant in three Fate/Stay routes. Instead, this will be the Archer EMIYA who's a true monster with higher stats and limitations crossed out.
Cause he definitely needs it with the things I have planned.
As a spoiler, Counter Guardian EMIYA is one of the final bosses of this story.
As for Gilgamesh and Kirei, they would skulking around for now while the war unfolds.
Tohsaka and Bazette team up?
Shinji becoming the Waver/Emiya of the story?
As for the next chapter, we'll be going for the 1st encounter of the Holy Grail War.
Archer vs Assasin!